Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former Olympic swimmer and a global humanitarian figure, has lived much of her life in the public eye.
  • Yet, in recent years, her life has been marked by serious health challenges that have drawn worldwide concern.
  • What began as a seemingly routine ear, nose, and throat infection during a humanitarian trip to Southern Africa in 2021 escalated into a prolonged medical ordeal, multiple surgeries, and a state of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Reading time: 7 min

Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former Olympic swimmer and a global humanitarian figure, has lived much of her life in the public eye. Yet, in recent years, her life has been marked by serious health challenges that have drawn worldwide concern. What began as a seemingly routine ear, nose, and throat infection during a humanitarian trip to Southern Africa in 2021 escalated into a prolonged medical ordeal, multiple surgeries, and a state of physical and emotional exhaustion.

This paper examines the timeline of Princess Charlene’s illness, her struggles with recovery, and her eventual decision to seek premium rehabilitation treatment in Switzerland. It also explores how her experience reflects the growing role of high-end medical and psychological rehab programs in addressing complex health conditions that intertwine physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

By tracing Charlene’s early life, athletic career, royal responsibilities, and eventual convalescence, this study aims to provide a balanced account of her journey — one that underscores the human vulnerability behind the royal image and highlights the importance of comprehensive, luxury rehabilitation in modern healthcare.

Key Takeaways

  • Princess Charlene, an Olympic athlete turned Princess of Monaco, experienced a severe ENT illness in 2021 that led to multiple surgeries.
  • The prolonged illness caused physical exhaustion, weight loss, and mental strain, compounded by separation from her family.
  • After returning to Monaco, she voluntarily entered a high-end rehabilitation facility in Switzerland to recover privately.
  • Reports suggest treatment may have taken place at The Kusnacht Practice or Paracelsus Recovery, among the world’s most exclusive medical clinics.
  • Her case highlights how elite rehabilitation combines medical, psychological, and holistic approaches for recovery in high-profile individuals.

Before addressing her health concerns, it is important to ascertain Princess Charlene’s early life and background. Princess Charlene is a former Olympic swimmer and Princess of Monaco. Albert II, her husband, is the Prince of Monaco and the head of the Princely House of Grimaldi.

Charlene was born in the Rhodesian capital of Bulawayo (now Zimbabwe). She began swimming in 1996 (winning the South African Championship) and competed for South Africa in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when her team placed fifth in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay. In 2007, Charlene ended her career as a professional swimmer.

As for the marriage, in the year 2000, Charlene met Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monaco. On July 1, 2011, the pair tied the knot. She gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques on December 10, 2014. Princess Charlene’s charitable activities are mostly focused on sports, AIDS, and poor children. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation was established in 2012 to support Charlene’s own humanitarian efforts.

The paper will now look to tackle health issues that Charlene faced. The illness that she suffers stems from a very common seasonal viral infection but the condition that she saw herself in purports that the illness was not as minor as it seems. Some even refer to it as ‘mystery illness’.

There will be two folds to this – the first part will provide a timeline of her illness whereas the second part will deal with the information that was provided by her family reflecting on her illness.

Charlene contracted an illness that affected her nose, throat, and ears in May 2021 while on a tour to raise awareness about the issue of rhinoceros poaching in Southern Africa. Earlier in the spring, she underwent a sinus lift and bone grafting treatment. Charlene was supposed to have another operation that day to treat her sickness, but it was postponed.

According to Peoples, she contracted the virus before she came and had surgery to address it in mid-May. In June, Charlene was brought again into the operating room to handle difficulties from the first operation, and she has stayed in South Africa since then. 

Due to the illness, she had trouble equalizing pressure and was unable to fly over 20,000 feet. She was unable to fly back to Monaco for a pre-scheduled engagement at the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. Princess Charlene was medically advised to remain in South Africa, away from her family, following repeated treatments. As a result, she was unable to attend the tenth anniversary celebrations of her marriage in June, which Charlene described as “very tough” and upsetting.

She underwent a four-hour procedure requiring general anesthesia in August 2021. She was admitted to the hospital again in September 2021 due to a “medical emergency” including ENT issues. It was revealed on October 8, 2021, that she has completed her final operation. On November 8, 2021, she returned to Monaco.

Having provided the timeline of her illness, we will now make use of statements of her family to reflect on the nature of the illness and its intricacies. 

Mike Wittstock, her father, talked to News24 about his daughter’s health problems, adding that he was too terrified to see her during her lengthy stay in South Africa owing to the hazards of Covid-19. ‘I didn’t want to infect her either because she’d had so many medical operations,’ he explained. ‘Based on the way she used to train, I know she’s tough and will go through this and come out much stronger,’ he told You magazine, adding that he felt his daughter could overcome her recent health concerns.

Chantall, Charlene’s sister-in-law and de facto spokesperson, also talked to the magazine regarding last month’s accusations in Page Six that the princess had ‘almost died.’ ‘This is absolutely not true,’ she stated emphatically. ‘After all of the treatments, she had difficulties eating, so she lost a lot of weight, but it was because she could only eat soft things and drink liquids.’ Princess Charlene’s alarming weight loss rekindled after she uploaded a photo of herself on Instagram looking weak and fragile, followed by the news that she would be withdrawing from an official function due to “deep overall tiredness.”

Her current status, according to Prince Albert, is the consequence of “many reasons that are private affairs.” ‘She underwent a lot of surgeries in a short period of time,’ she said, outlining the mental impact of Charlene’s sickness. She was really stressed at the moment. Going through all of the agony, treatments, and public scrutiny while being away from her family and children was tremendously distressing for her. She was heartbroken since she missed them so much, and it wasn’t easy for her.’ He went on to say, “She was plainly fatigued, both physically and mentally and that “She was completely overwhelmed and couldn’t face her official responsibilities, life in general, or even her family.”

Supporters are concerned that the Monaco royal family has downplayed the severity of her ailment following Prince Albert’s interview last week in which he said she had entered treatment upon her return to the principality;

“It’s unjust that she’s being painted as having some sort of mental or emotional problem,” one person added. “We’re not sure why the palace is downplaying the fact that she was nearly killed in South Africa.”

As noted above, her husband clarified that the Princess had recently started luxury rehabilitation. “After battling bad health for several months, the Princess is now convalescing and will remain so for the next few weeks, giving her time to recuperate from a condition of severe general exhaustion.” He further reiterated that The Princess’s whereabouts would remain totally discreet in order to maintain the comfort and privacy that are critical to her rehabilitation. As for the rehab, it is stated that the Princess herself understood herself that she needed help, Albert explained – “You can’t make someone acknowledge that they need therapy; they have to accept it on their own.” He stated, “She was already in favor of it.”

According to the French Voici, Charlene left the principality to travel to Switzerland for premium rehab. As reported by Fauci, Charlene had enrolled at a rehabilitation center in Switzerland but It is unknown exactly which clinic will be involved to provide inpatient rehab and high-end treatment to her illness. Nonetheless, given Albert’s statement that his wife’s illness is “not only physical,” she is speculated to be remaining at The Kusnacht Practice or Paracelsus Recovery. Accordingly, the treatment clinic is the world’s most elite where high end and executive treatment is provided to ensure executive and premium rehab. The clinic provides a wide range of medical and psychological services.

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